LIV Golf’s application was denied in 2022 by Peter Dawson and the OWGR even though it holds some of the best golfers in the world, and Cam Smith and Dustin Johnson leave comments
Peter Dawson denied LIV’s application for OWGR in 2022(Image: Getty Images)
LIV Golf has brought together some of the best golfers from around the world, but the one lingering issue is that the circuit has been without Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points ever since their inception, which means some stars have taken a tumble down the rankings list.
OWGR denied LIV Golf’s application for gaining tour status to get OWGR points for world rankings, but their former chief has no regrets regarding the decision. LIV higher-ups had applied for ranking points when getting onto the scene in 2022, but came out unsuccessful.
Peter Dawson was the former OWGR chief when the application was denied, and became the Chairman in 2016 but gave up the position in April of this year. He said it was the OWGR’s mission to make sure that every golfer is ranked at a fair position.
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“The OWGR has a terrific record of being inclusive,” the former chairman said. “It has expanded the number of tours it includes from five to 25.”
“It goes out of its way to help tours become OWGR eligible. I was very disappointed that we could not do so with LIV. It is self-evident that players on the LIV tour are good enough to be ranked because they were before.
“But OWGR has a duty to ensure that all of the thousands of players in the system are ranked equitably. Some aspects of the LIV format made that impossible. In my opinion OWGR made the only decision it could at the time.”
Cameron Smith leaves comment regarding LIV OWGR status
Dawson said he was content with his decision but it wasn’t easy. “I want all golf initiatives to do well and I can’t see that LIV has been a success by any measure.”
“Yes, it has given great wealth to a very few people but in terms of engagement its format of team golf isn’t resonating anywhere near enough with the fan base.
“I really don’t understand why the PIF and Saudi Arabia are persisting with it. They are doing wonderful things for the women’s game with the PIF Global Series and they have terrific plans inside Saudi for expanding golf for their own people and for tourism. These initiatives deserve our applause but LIV seems to be the odd man out.”
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Many golfers who have joined LIV were ranked high on the totem pole before joining the circuit. Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Phil Mickelson, and Lee Westwood all ranked as World No. 1 at some point before joining. Sergio Gracia and Henrik Stenson got up to second, and Bryson DeChambeau had been ranked third before committing to LIV.
Some of the notable golfers have criticized the OWGR for not allowing them to be included in the rankings. “I think it is almost obsolete now,” said Cameron Smith on the ranking system. The two-time major winner, Dustin Johnson, said “I feel like you can’t really use the world ranking system anymore.”
Ahead of the 2026 season, LIV is now trying new strategies to improve fan engagement and their reputation, and submitted a new application on June 30 to be apart of the OWGR.